Optical device cleaning

ABSTRACT

An optical device may include first and second male connectors and a patch panel that includes through holes for interconnecting the first male connectors and the second male connectors. The optical device may also include a patch panel cleaner to automatically clean the through holes of the patch panel, and a connector cleaner to automatically clean the first male connectors or the second male connectors.

BACKGROUND

Some optical switches permit any-to-any connections. In this case, theoptical switch connects one of several male fiber connectors to one ofseveral female fiber connectors. Proper cleaning of the optical switchcontinues to be an issue faced by optical switch manufacturers andusers.

Any contamination in the fiber connection can greatly degradeperformance or cause the optical switch to fail. Mechanical dust canoccur due to the rubbing and/or touching that often occurs when matingtwo fiber connectors together. Even microscopic dust particles can causea variety of problems for optical connections. A particle that partiallyor completely blocks a fiber core can generate strong back reflectionsthat can cause instability in the optical switch. Dust particles trappedbetween two fiber faces can scratch the glass surfaces, which can leadto high decibel (dB) loss. Even if a particle is only situated on acladding or an edge of the fiber face, it can cause an air gap or amisalignment between the fiber cores, which can significantly degradethe optical signal.

In addition to dust, other types of contamination can also accumulate onfiber connectors. Examples of these types of contamination include oils(e.g., frequently from human hands), residues (e.g., condensed airvapors), and powdery coatings (e.g. left after water or other solventsevaporate). These contaminants can be more difficult to remove than dustparticles and can also cause damage to the optical switch if notremoved.

Manual techniques exist for fully cleaning male fiber connectors, butsuch techniques often are insufficient for properly cleaning femalefiber connectors. Blowing or sucking tools have been used to clean dustparticles from within a female fiber connector, but these tools may haveinsufficient strength to overcome the high static forces that can occurwithin the female connector. A swab can be used to clean other types ofcontaminants from within a female connector, but the swab typicallycannot fully eliminate the contaminants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary network in which systems and methodsdescribed herein may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a portion of an optical device of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of a fiber connector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a patch panel of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary diagrams of a patch panel cleaner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram of a fiber connector cleaner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for mating twofiber connectors via the patch panel; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the mating of two fiber connectors viathe patch panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does notlimit the invention.

Implementations described herein may provide an arrangement for anoptical device that ensures that the device can be properly andautomatically cleaned.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary network 100 in which systems andmethods described herein may be implemented. Network 100 may includeoptical devices 110 arranged to form one or more networks. In otherimplementations, other arrangements of optical devices 110 are possible.

Optical device 110 may include an optical switch, an optical patch panelsystem, or the like. Optical device 110 may provide any-to-anyconnectivity from one set of optical fibers to another set of opticalfibers. Optical devices 110 may connect together to form a long haulbackbone or a metro layer. Alternatively, optical device 110 may form apoint-of-presence (POP) that connects to customer premises equipment(CPE) 120.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a portion of optical device 110.Optical device 110 may include fiber connectors 210 and 220, a patchpanel 230, robotic arms 240 and 250, a patch panel cleaner 260, and afiber connector cleaner 270. While a certain number and arrangement ofcomponents are shown in FIG. 2, a different number or arrangement ofcomponents may be used in other implementations. For example, opticaldevice 110 may include a controller (not shown) that may control theoperation of the various components shown in FIG. 2.

Fiber connectors 210 and 220 may include male connectors that connect tooptical fibers. A single fiber connector 210 or 220 may receive and/ortransmit data on its corresponding optical fiber. FIG. 3 is an exemplarydiagram of a single fiber connector 210 or 220 (also referred to hereinas “fiber connector 210/220”). Fiber connector 210/220 may include ahousing 310 and a fiber tip 320. Housing 310 may be constructed of arigid material like plastic and/or rubber. Housing 310 may receive anoptical fiber and connect the fiber to fiber tip 320. Fiber tip 320 maybe constructed of a rigid material to protect the optical fiber. Housing310 may also include a spring 330 that is designed for forced contact toprevent high loss.

Returning to FIG. 2, patch panel 230 may include a housing thatfacilitates cross connections between fiber connectors 210 and fiberconnectors 220. As shown in FIG. 2, a fiber connector 210 may connect toone side of patch panel 230 and a fiber connector 220 may connect to theother side of patch panel 230. While FIG. 2 shows fiber connectors 210and 220 connecting to patch panel 230 in a horizontal manner, fiberconnectors 210 and 220 may connect to patch panel 230 in a verticalmanner.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of patch panel 230. As shown in FIG. 4,patch panel 230 may include a plastic housing with M×N through holes 410(where M≧1, N≧1). Each through hole 410 may be configured to supportfiber tips 320 of one fiber connector 210 and one fiber connector 220.Through hole 410 may facilitate the transmission of optical signalsbetween these fiber connectors 210 and 220 with low loss. Patch panel230 may assure that latching remains and no connectivity is lost in theevent that power is removed from optical device 110.

Circular area 450 in FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of patch panel230. As shown within circular area 450, each through hole 410 mayinclude angled slants 412 on either side of patch panel 230. Angledslants 412 may be designed to facilitate proper guiding of fiberconnectors 210 and 220.

Returning to FIG. 2, robotic arm(s) 240 or 250 may include one or moremechanical mechanisms to facilitate the connection of a fiber connector210 or 220 to patch panel 230. As used herein, the term “robotic arm” isto be broadly interpreted to mean any mechanical mechanism that canoperate under software control. Robotic arm 240 or 250 may obtain afiber connector 210 or 220, guide fiber connector 210 or 220 to aparticular through hole 410 of patch panel 230, and tightly seat fiberconnector 210 or 220 with patch panel 230.

Patch panel cleaner 260 may include one or more automated mechanismsthat can be used for cleaning through holes 410 of patch panel 230.Patch panel cleaner 260 may use these automated mechanisms to cleanthrough holes 410 if through holes 410 are empty (i.e., if through holes410 are not being used to mate fiber connectors 210 and 220).

FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary diagrams of patch panel cleaner 260. Asshown in FIG. 5, patch panel cleaner 260 may include an air blower 510to blow air through a through bole 410 to remove any contaminantscontained therein. The amount of force of the air blown by air blower510 may be programmable. A robotic arm (not shown) can be used to moveair blower 510 to a through hole 410 to be cleaned. The robotic arm mayoperate under software control. As shown in FIG. 6, patch panel cleaner260 may include a stick cleaner 610 to be inserted into a through hole410 to remove any contaminants contained therein. A robotic arm (notshown) can be used to insert stick cleaner 610 into a through hole 410to be cleaned. The robotic arm may operate under software control. Thedirection and/or motion that stick cleaner 610 moves can beprogrammable. For example, stick cleaner 610 may be moved in a back andforth direction, as shown in FIG. 6, and/or may be moved in a circularmotion once inserted into through hole 410.

Returning to FIG. 2, fiber connector cleaner 270 may include one or moreautomated mechanisms that can be used for cleaning fiber connectors 210and 220. Fiber connector cleaner 270 may use these automated mechanismsto clean fiber connectors 210 and 220 if fiber connectors 210 and 220are not being used (i.e., if fiber connectors 210 and 220 are notcurrently mated in a through hole 410).

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram of fiber connector cleaner 270. As shownin FIG. 7, fiber connector cleaner 270 may include a cleaning pad 710connected to a robotic arm 720. Cleaning pad 710 may include a cleaningmaterial suited for cleaning the fiber tips of fiber connectors.Cleaning pad 710 may provide dry or wet cleaning. Robotic arm 720 maymove cleaning pad 710 to a fiber connector 210/220 to be cleaned.Robotic arm 720 may operate under software control. In oneimplementation, robotic arm 720 may use a motion perpendicular to theaxis of fiber tip 320 of fiber connector 210/220 to clean contaminantsfrom fiber connector 210/220. Robotic arm 720 may repeat theperpendicular motion for a number of iterations or until fiber connector210/220 is determined to be clean (e.g., when the loss associated withfiber connector 210/220 falls under a threshold, which may or may not bethe same as the threshold used to determine when to clean fiberconnector 210/220).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for mating twofiber connectors 210 and 220 via patch panel 230. The process of FIG. 8may begin with the identification of two fiber connectors 210 and 220 tobe mated (block 810). For example, optical device 110 may receive asignal that instructs optical device 110 to connect a first fiber to asecond fiber. Optical device 110 may identify a fiber connector 210associated with the first fiber and a fiber connector 220 associatedwith the second fiber.

Fiber connectors 210 and 220 may be cleaned of contaminants, ifnecessary (block 820). For example, an automated technique, such asfiber scoping, may be used to determine the loss associated with fiberconnectors 210 and 220. If the loss associated with a fiber connector210/220 is not greater than a threshold, then that fiber connector210/220 may not need to be cleaned. The threshold may be set based onperformance considerations. A loss of 0.2 dB may be deemed acceptable.Alternatively, a loss in the range of 0.2 dB to 0.5 dB may be deemedacceptable. The threshold may be set based on the amount of loss thatcan be tolerated to maintain a particular level of performance. In oneimplementation, the threshold may be set at 0.5 dB, 0.7 dB, or atanother threshold value.

If the loss associated with a fiber connector 210/220 is greater thanthe threshold, then fiber tip cleaning may be performed on fiberconnector 210/220. For example, fiber connector cleaner 270 may usecleaning pad 710 (wet or dry) to clean contaminants from fiber tip 320.In one implementation, cleaning pad 710 may be rubbed against fiber tip320 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of fiber tip 320 for aparticular number of iterations to clean contaminants from fiber tip320. The particular number of iterations may be programmable.Alternatively, the particular number of iterations may be based on lossassociated with fiber connector 210/220. For example, movement ofcleaning pad 710 may continue until the loss associated with fiberconnector 210/220 falls below a threshold, which may or may not be thesame threshold used to determine whether fiber tip cleaning isnecessary.

A through hole 410 of patch panel 230 may be identified to receive fiberconnectors 210 and 220 (block 830). For example, optical device 110 mayuse software to identify available through holes 410 of patch panel 230.Optical device 110 may determine which of the available through holes410 should be used to receive fiber connectors 211 and 220. In oneimplementation, optical device 110 may randomly select one of theavailable through holes 410, or may select one of the available throughholes 410 according to some pattern.

Through hole 410 may be cleaned of contaminants (block 840). Forexample, patch panel cleaner 260 may use air blower 510 and/or stickcleaner 610 to clean contaminants from within through hole 410. Forexample, air blower 510 may be positioned next to through hole 410using, for example, a robotic arm. Air blower 510 may then blow air intothrough hole 410 with a particular amount of force and for a particularamount of time to clean contaminants from within through hole 410. Theparticular amount of force and/or the particular amount of time may beprogrammable. Alternatively, or additionally, stick cleaner 610 may bepositioned next to through hole 410 using, for example, a robotic arm.Stick cleaner 610 may then be inserted into through hole 410 and movedin a particular direction/motion (e.g., back and forth, circular, etc.)to clean contaminants from within the selected through hole 410. Theparticular direction/motion may be programmable.

Fiber connectors 210 and 220 may be obtained using robotic arms 240 and250, respectively (block 850). For example, robotic arms 240 and 250 maypick up fiber connectors 210 and 220, respectively, from one or morelocations containing unused fiber connectors 210 and 220.

Fiber connectors 210 and 220 may be mated via through hole 410 (block860). For example, optical device 110 may instruct robotic arms 240 and250 regarding which through hole 410 to use to mate fiber connectors 210and 220. Robotic arms 240 and 250 may guide fiber connectors 210 and220, respectively, toward through hole 410 and seat fiber connectors 210and 220 within through hole 410, as shown in FIG. 9. Angled slants 412may facilitate proper guiding and seating of fiber connectors 210 and220.

The preceding description described the patch panel cleaning processand/or the fiber connector cleaning process as part of the process formating two fiber connectors. In another implementation, the patch panelcleaning process and/or the fiber connector cleaning process may beperformed independent of the process for mating two fiber connectors.

For example, the patch panel cleaning process may be performed on aperiodic basis (e.g., repeated at particular time intervals) or may becontinuously performed (e.g., continuously cleaning through holes 410 ofpatch panel 230). In this case, patch panel cleaner 260 may select anavailable through hole 410 (i.e., a through hole 410 that is empty) toclean. For example, an available through hole 410 may be selected as afunction of when this through hole 410 was last cleaned. This may ensurethat through holes 410 are periodically cleaned (i.e., through holes 410that have not been cleaned in more than a particular amount of time orthat have not been cleaned since their last use may be given a higherpriority in the cleaning process). This may also ensure that throughholes 410 are not needlessly cleaned (i.e., through holes 410 that wererecently cleaned or remained empty since the last cleaning may be givena lower priority in the cleaning process). Patch panel cleaner 260 mayclean the selected through hole 410, as described above.

Alternatively, or additionally, the fiber connection cleaning processmay be performed on a periodic basis (e.g., repeated at particular timeintervals) or may be continuously performed (e.g., continuously cleaningfiber connectors 210/220). In this case, fiber connector cleaner 270 mayselect a fiber connector 210/220, such as any fiber connector 210/220that is currently not in use (i.e., not mated within patch panel 230).Fiber connector cleaner 270 may perform loss checking on the selectedfiber connector 210/220 and clean the selected fiber connector 210/220,if necessary, as described above.

Implementations described herein may provide an arrangement for anoptical device that facilitates the cleaning and maintaining of theoptical device.

The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.

For example, while a series of blocks has been described with regard toFIG. 8, the order of the blocks may be modified in otherimplementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed inparallel.

Further, it may be possible to provide power to patch panel cleaner 260and/or fiber connector cleaner 270 independent of other components ofoptical device 110. In this case, patch panel cleaner 260 and/or fiberconnector cleaner 270 may continue to operate if optical device 110loses power.

It will be apparent that systems and methods, as described above, may beimplemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardwarein the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual softwarecode or specialized control hardware used to implement these systems andmethods is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the operation andbehavior of the systems and methods were described without reference tothe specific software code—it being understood that software and controlhardware can be designed to implement the systems and methods based onthe description herein.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitlydescribed as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended toinclude one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term“one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” isintended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly statedotherwise.

1. An automated method, comprising: identifying a fiber connector;identifying a through hole of a patch panel to receive the fiberconnector; cleaning the through hole; seating the fiber connector withinthe through hole after cleaning the through hole; determining a lossassociated with the fiber connector; and cleaning the fiber connectorwhen the loss associated with the fiber connector is greater than afirst threshold, including: repeatedly rubbing a cleaning pad againstthe fiber connector to remove contaminants until the loss associatedwith the fiber connector falls below a second threshold.
 2. The methodof claim 1, where cleaning the through hole includes: guiding an airblower to the through hole, and blowing air through the through holeusing the air blower to remove contaminants from the through hole. 3.The method of claim 1, where at least one of an amount of force used toblow the air or an amount of time that the air is blown through thethrough hole is programmable.
 4. The method of claim 1, where cleaningthe through hole includes: guiding a stick cleaner to the through hole,inserting the stick cleaner into the through hole, and moving the stickcleaner in a particular direction or with a particular motion to removecontaminants from the through hole.
 5. The method of claim 4, where anumber of iterations in which the stick cleaner is moved in theparticular direction or with the particular motion is programmable. 6.The method of claim 1, where seating the fiber connector includes:picking up the fiber connector using a robotic arm, guiding, using therobotic arm, the fiber connector to the through hole, and seating, usingthe robotic arm, the fiber connector within the through hole.
 7. Adevice, comprising: means for identifying a connector; means fordetermining a loss associated with the connector; means for cleaning theconnector when the loss associated with the connector is greater than afirst threshold; means for continuing cleaning of the connector untilthe loss associated with the connector falls below a second threshold;means for identifying a through hole of a patch panel to receive theconnector; means for cleaning the through hole; and means for seatingthe connector within the through hole after cleaning the through hole.8. The device of claim 7, where the connector comprises a male fiberconnector.
 9. The device of claim 7, where the connector includes aspring for forced contact of the connector to the patch panel.
 10. Thedevice of claim 7, where the through hole includes an angled slant tofacilitate seating of the connector within the through hole.
 11. Thedevice of claim 7, where the means for seating comprises: a robotic armto: guide the connector to the through hole of the patch panel, and seatthe connector within the through hole.
 12. The device of claim 7, wherethe means for cleaning the through hole includes an air blower to blowair through the through hole to remove contaminants from the throughhole.
 13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a robotic arm tomove the air blower to the through hole.
 14. The device of claim 7,where the means for cleaning the through hole includes a stick cleanerthat is automatically inserted into the through hole to removecontaminants from the through hole.
 15. The device of claim 14, furthercomprising a robotic arm to insert the stick cleaner into the throughhole.
 16. The device of claim 7, where the means for cleaning theconnector includes a cleaning pad to automatically remove contaminantsfrom the connector.